Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
The Woodlands
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $66k less ($390,200 vs $456,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $21,125/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $21,125 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Violent Crime
55% lower
106.4 vs 235.4 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$66k less
$390,200 vs $456,400
Allen
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$21,125
$142,384 vs $121,259/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,723⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 17.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 118,402 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 14 of 23 categories. Allen wins 9 and The Woodlands wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $456,400 median home), income ($121,259 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and The Woodlands, TX are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.